Warrior Toughness: Making the Mind, Body, Soul Connection
At Recruit Training Command, toughness is found—and trained—at the intersection of spiritual, mental, and physical strength.
By Rear Admiral Michael Bernacchi, Master Chief Stephen Drum, and Lieutenant Commanders Jennifer Anderson and Kathleen Saul, U.S. Navy
July 2019
Proceedings
It is the middle of the night. Only the midwatch is awake, diligently recording logs and keeping the ship safe. Suddenly, alarms blare and the ship violently shakes the crew awake. Fears grow worse when “man overboard†is announced over the 1MC. Divisions race against the clock and the frigid winter waters to take muster. This is a scenario that makes any sailor shudder, and one that keeps many a captain up at night.
This heart-pounding and sweat-inducing scenario happens at boot camp every day. The watchstanders are recruits. The scrambling divisions, also recruits. The emergency responders, recruits. The voice over the 1MC, a recruit. Recruits now spend their days drilling just like ships at sea; standing watch, earning qualifications, and training under the same stressful conditions endured by sailors in the fleet. Adding to the realism, boot camp instructors are forbidden to intervene except in matters of recruit safety. They are allowed only to monitor and, of course, grade and critique.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2019/july/warrior-toughness-making-mind-body-soul-connection
